Willette Maybin

Willette Dolores Maybin was born on December 5, 1943 in New York City to Gloria Thurmond and William Johnson. She fell asleep in death on Sunday, December 15, 2024 after a 3 ½-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Willette received her education in the New York City school system where she attended Washington Irving High school. She gave birth to her first child, Richard Weekes, in New York City. Willette relocated to Baltimore, MD where she married James F. Maybin and had three children: Darlene, Stephanie and Kimberly. James preceded her in death on July 28, 1994. Willette was a dedicated employee and was employed in Financial Services & Insurance Industries for 50 years and continued to work after “early retirement” until she officially retired on June 30, 2022 due to her illness. Willette made numerous friends wherever she went and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her. She was affectionately known as Bunnalunsen, Willie Lump Lump, Willmac, Willie D, Miss Willie, Momma May, Momma Maybin, The Willettester and probably some more that only she knows. Willette had a love for teaching and wanted to be a school teacher. While she wasn’t able to become a school teacher, her love for teaching manifested itself in other areas of her life. One way she was able to use her love of teaching was when she was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on October 21, 1973. She enjoyed 51 years talking about and teaching others about God’s Kingdom as found in the Bible and served in the Franklintown, Edmondson, Hilton, Wildwood Park, Catonsville and Woodmoor congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For over 10 of those 51 years, Willette served as a full-time evangelizer or Regular Pioneer and had the privilege of attending Pioneer Service School three times, with her final time attending coming in June 2023. Over the years, she participated in many Kingdom Hall construction projects, even one during her cancer battle. Her example of true love and endurance for God had a tremendous impact on all who knew her and impressed greatly on their hearts and minds. She was a valuable woman of faith that will not be forgotten. Another way Willette was able to use her love of teaching was in teaching her children essential life skills such as reading and writing before they started school, typing, computing skills, how to pay your bills, how to be a good employee, how to be hospitable and so many more. She truly embodied the saying that “Parents are their child’s first teachers.” Willette’s hobbies included sewing, crocheting, knitting, getting down on the dance floor and watching old movies and football with her daughters. She used her sewing and crocheting skills to make clothes, sometimes matching outfits for herself and daughters. She was also a savvy card player, excelling at games like Pinochle, Bid Whist and Spades. Willette leaves to cherish her memories: four children: Richard Weekes (Maria), Darlene, Stephanie, and Kimberly Maybin; three siblings: Sandra Spence, Gary Thurmond (Nadine), and Marcia Thurmond; three grandchildren: Aaron White, Darryl Lynch, and Camela Camilleri (Robert); five great-grandchildren; one sister-cousin, Audrey LaFrance; two sisters-in-law, Geraldine Scott and Jane Johnson; one brother-in-law, Edward Johnson, Jr. (Patty) and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Tributes

Willette Maybin

December 5, 1943 - December 15, 2024